Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-09
WOMEN AND DRESS.
ELLA WHEELER ON MODERN FASHIONS IN
DRESS.
How Women Should Apparel Thsmsslyes-Whas
Men Like Most in WOmens DrsSS-Amsrican
Women Dressing Better Than Formerly
Oscar Widas Influence.
Copyrighted, 1871

loves. Next to the saving of her own soul,
it is the most imperative duty of her life.
If she loves no man, then che should en-
deayOr to be comedy in the sight of her
friends and associates. Whenever q wo-
man is dainty and careful in her dress she
helps to refine the tastes of those about
her.
So long as she keeps these objects in
view, she is justified in the use OF what
ever time and money her situation may de-
mand for the purpose. When she ignores
these points, and dresses to outyie her
neighbor, she is iudulging in sOulless eX-
travagance
A wife ought to make a careful study OF
her husbands tastes in dress, and apparel
herself accordingly. In order to do this,
would advise her to keep a tablet At hand
on which 10 jOwn his tlatteriDg comments
on other ladies' costumes. or TO make
memoranda OF the toilets which won his
admiring chances. In this way many y
wife would gain tairer estimate OF her
husbands tastes than by trusting to his
comments on her own dress. Ii q woman
knows that she cannot afford to wear as
rich clothing ~ some OF her friends, or
that she overtaXeS and embarrasses her
husband in the effort, she is guilty OF an
| iueXCuSable folly, almost crime, II she IN
sists upon it. The garment winch has to
Toe obtained Icy coaXing or tears and PAID
for by sleepless nights Of worry, can never
| bring the weaIeT happiness, or success
| Better to be clothed in sack cloth.
Young men declare they cannot afford
10 marry nowadays, because girls are so
extravaglut. They may blame them
selves tor much OF this extravaganza. IL
| il well-dresSed women on whom they be
stow their attentions aud their cOmph-
/ ments
Through the thin wall Of hotel parti-
| ton | was the involuntary listener not
| long ago to conversation between two
young men. They were discussing The
Young ladies with whom they had become
acquainted during the summer.
'You Just ought to have seen the girl |
met at Lake George" said one. Her
dresses fitted like the paper on the wall.
No lady there could compare with her IN
| style"
/ think, rs a rule, however, it does not
require extravagaut expenditure to produce
pleasing effects for the opposite SEX. Men
| like a well fitted garment, in the prevail
ing fashion, and in becoming colors. Only
! the dudes and the statesmen are experts IN
Judging of expensive materials and elahor-
ate finish.
/ heard gentleman fave over a lady's
costume one day, and pronounce 1t one OF
the most effective and elegant he had ever
seen. 10 was a simple serge, but exnuis
itely fitted and draped, and the color was
exactly suited to its wearer. His wife,
who frnwned at his rhapsOdies, aud, no
doubt, wondered ut his taste, was attlred
i'm an expensive silk, overturned and
clumsily made and of hideOusly unbe-
coming shade.
know two girls: one is q daughter OF
wealth, who wastes a fortune on dress every
wear. | say waStec, because she throws
her money away reCSlessly, ruins gar
ment quickly, and is seldom neatly dressed.
The other girl wears inexpensive materials,
is scrupulOusly neat and careful, and on
one-twentieth of the money expended by
the heire4a she is better apparelled and
more pleasing to the eye.
American women dress in far better and
more distinctive taste than they did de-
cade of years ago. Individuality is dress
is becoming more potant than fashion.
Few of us realize to whom thanks Is due
for this welcome innovation.
We made sport OF Oscar Wilde, yet we
owe him almost as great debt OF graft
tude as we owe TO the Centennial celebra.
ton of 1876. He told the American woman
to study her personnel, and to adopt her
Garments to her "her own particular
STYLE" He told her to dare to be artistic;
aud the effect Of his words increases with
each passing year.
No woman ever thought TO make pur-
chase of even print or camhriC morning
dress without pausing to think whether 1t
suits her style. Ii she il tall and sallow,
she does not need to increase her height
and her sallowness by pale blue stripe.
Leave that for the short blonde, and pur-
chase crimson check, OF plain dark
blue.
1t was the Creators original intention
that all women should he fair TO look
upon. UglineSs and defOrmity are the re.
suits Of wrong methods OF living and
thinking, and it is in our power to greatly
augment or modify these misfOrtuneS by
our methods Oi dress. II is noble ant,
and should be stud ii like any other OF
the arts.
II is useless to deny the fact, and We
NAV a. EeIl be frank about it, our gar
ments for the street are uncomfortable and
| announcement. But what are We going to
do about il? Only the fortunate p1SseSsOrs
of perfect forms and faces can look well in
questionable attire. Perfect beauties are
few, aud even they prefer 10 Increase their
charms by attractive costumes.
Men are quick to note with appriciative
glanceS, or ready woods Of admiration, a
fresh and stylish toilet They are quick
to deride and ridicule u woman who dares
| to be independent of fashion
So long - mankind finds fashionable
garments the attractive ores, 80 long wO-
mankind will strive ID keep close to Dame
/ Fashion, 40 matter how she PinChe3 Us,
prickS us dragS us down aud OverlOadS US.
believe the corset is ruinOuS to the real
beauty OF the female figure and 20 the
health OF women All the long deienCes
/ al il ever written, all the dlsScI tatlOTs on
| the SUPPORT" il gives the weareT, all the
certificates vi "perisctly healthy and long
| lived" women who haze been brought up
from the cradle in STAYS, viii never con
&c any sensible human being Any
thing which congresses the waist in the
least degree, anything which prevents deep
rtsUiration, anything which does moi per
| nit US "a leap, run, fence, swim or practice
gymn ls.ics without extra fatigue, must be
injurious.
4 slight woman msy DO all this ia iacing
strings, but without them the effort wOuld
be undeably easier.
In one of the uptown hotel pariOFs
heard two mothers chatting about their
young daughters last month. lam really
wo4 eiGd about Nellie" said one. she is
80 full or AIs. and so fond OF outdoor
sports. She Is wild GEe. lanpis and row.
| ing, but she is 80 anxious 10 to.k tim that
abe takes all her exercise in her corset.
cannot persuade her to leave it on. She
comes in so tired, and she is thin as q
shallow, despite OR long summer in the
country, where J took her to rest and re
cruit."
saw a young lady Pause at TIE loot Of
the New York Elevated Railroad statioa
| the other day, and look up the long flight